News Releases
Crapo Co-Sponsors Extension Of The North American Wetlands Conservation Act
Washington, D.C. - Idaho Senator Mike Crapo, a member of the U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, joined a bipartisan group of colleagues in introducing the North American Wetlands Conservation Extension Act (NAWCA). This five year extension would renew the authorization that expired at the end of fiscal year 2012. "The Gem State has 16 NAWCA projects that are either complete or now underway," Crapo noted. "These projects have conserved over 65,000 acres of wildlife habitat. … Continue Reading
April 11, 2013
Crapo Votes Against Moving Firearms Package Forward
Washington, D.C. - Today, the U.S. Senate voted 68-31 to move a firearms package to the floor for debate. Idaho Senator Mike Crapo joined several colleagues in voting against the legislation, finding that it further restricts the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding Idahoans. Last week, Crapo joined 13 other Republican Senators in sending a letter to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nevada), stating that he would "oppose the motion to proceed to any legislation that will serve as a vehic… Continue Reading
April 10, 2013
Budget Is Two Monthâ??s Late And More Of The Same
Washington, D.C. - After a two month delay and missing the legal deadline, President Barack Obama today submitted his Fiscal Year (FY) 2014 Budget to Congress. Idaho Senator Mike Crapo, a member of the U.S. Senate Budget and Finance Committees, expressed disappointment and frustration with the proposal sent from the White House. "This is the fourth time in five years that this administration has submitted a late budget to Congress," Crapo noted. "There is no business or family in Idaho that … Continue Reading
April 09, 2013
Crapo Announces Staff Changes
Washington, D.C. - Idaho Senator Mike Crapo announces promotions for two members of his staff and welcomes another to his Washington, D.C., office. Judd Deere has been promoted to serve as Crapo's Press Secretary & Digital Director. Over the past year, Deere has served as the Senator's New Media Director. Crapo's office has implemented an innovative digital strategy allowing the Senator to reach a wider audience of Idahoans. Besides launching a Twitter account that now has over 2,500 f… Continue Reading
April 05, 2013
Crapo Statement on the Passing Of Shoshone-Paiute Tribal Chairman Gibson
Washington, D.C. - Idaho Senator Mike Crapo released the following statement after learning of the death of Shoshone-Paiute Tribal Chairman Terry Gibson. "The unexpected passing of Chairman Gibson brings great sadness to the Tribes, the Owyhee area, to me and to Idaho," said Crapo. "Terry was an outstanding leader and he was my friend. We worked together on projects to benefit Tribal members and he was always a trusted partner and strong leader with the courage and foresight to tackle the man… Continue Reading
April 04, 2013
Crapo Joins Group Of Senators To Protect Second Amendment
Washington, D.C. - Idaho Senator Mike Crapo has signed a letter, along with other Republican colleagues, to U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nevada) reaffirming his opposition to any legislation that would restrict American's Second Amendment rights. "The Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution guarantees the rights of law-abiding Americans to keep and bear arms," Crapo said. "This right was put in place by the founders and has been consistently upheld in the U.S. Supreme Court. I… Continue Reading
March 23, 2013
Crapo: Budget Does Nothing To Address Debt Crisis
Washington, D.C. - Idaho Senator Mike Crapo, a member of the U.S. Senate Budget Committee, voted against the Senate version of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2014 Budget Resolution after he and other colleagues were unsuccessful at fixing the bill brought forward by the Majority party. The final product had few changes from the blueprint that Crapo voted against in the committee mark-up. Following the mandated 50 hours of debate and votes on over 100 amendments, the Senate approved the budget resolution… Continue Reading
March 22, 2013
Crapo, Risch, Heller Language Assures Collaboration in Sage Grouse Recovery
Washington, D.C. - Idaho Senators Mike Crapo and Jim Risch today joined Senator Dean Heller (R-Nevada) to introduce an amendment to the Fiscal Year 2014 Budget that would mandate increased cooperation between federal agencies, states and local groups concerning the recovery of sage grouse populations. The U.S. Department of Interior, through the Bureau of Land Management, has indicated it will reduce existing grazing allotments related to sage grouse recovery. The Senators say such actions dis… Continue Reading
March 22, 2013
Crapo Attempts To Eliminate Obamacare Tax Increases On Middle Class
Washington, D.C. - Idaho Senator Mike Crapo took to the Senate Floor today with an amendment to block tax increases on lower- and middle-income Americans contained in the Affordable Health Care Act, also known as Obamacare. Although his amendment failed on a party-line vote of 45-to-54, Crapo said he would continue to push for recognition of the tax increases that violate the President's earlier pledge that middle class Americans would see "not one dime" of increase in any of their taxes with t… Continue Reading
March 21, 2013
Delegation Encourages Lake Lowell Comments
Washington, D.C. - Members of the Idaho Congressional Delegation are calling on Idahoans to offer their comments before May 15regarding management changes at Lake Lowell and the Deer Flat National Wildlife Refuge south of Nampa. The U.S Fish and Wildlife Service is in the final stages of creating a new comprehensive management plan for the refuge at a time when some users are concerned about restrictions on recreation at the lake, a popular recreation area in Southwest Idaho. "We thank th… Continue Reading
March 21, 2013
Senator Co-Sponsors Legislation To Repeal Health Insurance Tax
Washington, D.C. - Idaho Senator Mike Crapo, a supporter of repealing Obamacare (the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act), joined several colleagues as an original co-sponsor of the Jobs and Premium Protection Act. This bill would eliminate the health insurance tax (HIT) included in the President's law that is causing insurance premiums to rise, proving costly to businesses and families. "When this law was passed, many in Congress and the Administration said it would lower costs and if … Continue Reading
March 20, 2013
Crapo Seeks Input On EPA Actions, Regulations
Washington, D.C. - With a nominated administrator for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) seeking confirmation by the U.S. Senate, Idaho Senator Mike Crapo is seeking input from all impacted Idahoans, including farmers and ranchers, about their experience with EPA regulations affecting their daily lives and ability to do business. Crapo is a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, which will vote on the nomination of Gina McCarthy to lead the EPA. "Many Idahoan… Continue Reading
March 19, 2013
Crapo & Johnson Reintroduce Bill To Address Shortfall of Veterinarians in Rural Areas
Washington, D.C. - Idaho Senator Mike Crapo and U.S. Senator Tim Johnson (D-SD) are continuing their efforts to end the shortfall of veterinarians in rural areas by reintroducing the Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program Enhancement Act (VMLRP). This bipartisan bill would help meet the growing demand for veterinarians nationwide by eliminating taxes on programs that encourage veterinarians to practice in underserved areas. This legislation would provide a federal income tax exemption for p… Continue Reading
March 16, 2013
Crapo Statement on Markup of SEC, CFPB Nominations
Washington, D.C. - At an Executive Session to markup the nominations of Mary Jo White to be Chairman of the Securities and Exchanges Commission (SEC) and Richard Cordray to be Director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-ID), Ranking Member of the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee, made the following remarks: Mr. Chairman, I believe that we had a very good hearing last week regarding the nominations. The hearing gave the Committee … Continue Reading
March 14, 2013
Crapo Offers Budget Amendment To Protect The Crime Victims Fund
Washington, D.C. - In the mark-up of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2014 Budget, the U.S. Senate Budget Committee approved an amendment from Idaho Senator Mike Crapo to prevent the monies collected for the Crime Victims Fund from being used for purposes unrelated to assisting crime victims. "For more than two decades, the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) has been providing critical funding to victims' service organizations and direct compensation to victims of crime," Crapo said. "For too many years, it has… Continue Reading
March 13, 2013
Senators Introduce Bipartisan Hydropower Bill
Washington, D.C. - Idaho Senator Mike Crapo joined Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) today to introduce the Hydropower Improvement Act of 2013. Other co-sponsors of the bipartisan legislation include: Sens. Ron Wyden (D-Oregon), James Risch (R-Idaho), Maria Cantwell (D-Washington), Patty Murray (D-Washington) and Mark Begich (D-Alaska). The bill seeks to substantially increase the United States' hydropower capacity in an effort to expand clean-power generation and spur domestic job creation. … Continue Reading
March 13, 2013
Crapo: Trillions In Tax Hikes Are Not The Formula To Grow The Economy Or Balance The Budget
Washington, D.C. - Idaho Senator Mike Crapo, a member of the Senate Budget Committee, issued this statement today following the release of the budget outline proposed by the Chair of the Budget Committee, Senator Patty Murray (D-Washington), the first outline released in four years: "It has taken four years for the Senate's majority party to release a budget blueprint," Crapo said. "Unfortunately, this proposal fails to recognize the significant worsening of our economy and fiscal outlook sin… Continue Reading
March 08, 2013
Crapo Introduces DAIRY Savings Legislation
Washington, D.C. - Senators from the nation's leading dairy producing states have introduced bipartisan legislation to encourage dairy producers to invest in risk reducing farm savings accounts. The Dairy Augmentation for Increased Retail in Yogurt (DAIRY) Act, introduced by Senators Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and Charles Schumer (D-New York), would give dairy producers a new tool to manage increasing demand while providing a safety net for volatile market downturns. Idaho and New York are the top … Continue Reading
March 07, 2013
Crapo, Lautenberg, Inhofe, Udall Introduce Bipartisan Brownfields Reauthorization Bill
WASHINGTON, D.C.-Today, U.S. Senators Mike Crapo (R-ID), Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ), Jim Inhofe (R-OK) and Tom Udall (D-NM) introduced bipartisan legislation to modernize and improve key elements of the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Brownfields Program. Since 2002, the successful program has funded the rehabilitation of abandoned and polluted properties to increase safety and attract new businesses to communities. All four Senators are members of the Environment and Public Works … Continue Reading
March 07, 2013
Bipartisan Legislation To Support Victims of Violence Signed Into Law
Washington, D.C. - The reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), signed into law today by President Barack Obama, will strengthen programs and policies meant to prevent domestic and sexual violence and protect victims, ensuring continued services for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. Senators Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont) and Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), the bill's lead Senate authors, both attended a White House signing ceremony Thursday, and called the bill's long overdue … Continue Reading
